One of the pleasures of the red carpet circuit is catching up with stars like sultry Catherine Bell, a onetime body double who made it big with her own alluring assets clad (too much so, we think) in a navy uniform on CBS’ hit series JAG as Lt. Col. Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie. But Bell’s as sharp she is shapely, recently heightening her profile with a sexy FHM cover appearance and allowing Howard Stern to officially measure her bra size on the air.
Such twists and turns of the starlet lifestyle are all part of the game for this up-and-coming actress; stopping for a chat at the hot new West Hollywood restaurant Astra West, she definitely rang our Bell.
Hollywood.com: You and the fatigue-patterned swimsuit on the cover of FHM were worth saluting. Did that photo shoot spike your popularity at all?
Catherine Bell: It was definitely interesting. I became more famous, like, the week after it came out. Actually, walking around the street, it was, like, 10 times the recognition. It was very interesting.
At least you survived your first Howard Stern experience.
Barely! [laughs] It was OK, I actually had a good time.
You were a good sport letting Howard measure your bust, and you gave as good as you got when the questions turned to your sex life and involvement in Scientology.
It was fun. There wasn’t anything he could ask that was gonna throw me. I knew what he was gonna ask before I went in there…I was very prepared, I went though a list of all the questions.
Instead of trying to get your clothes off like everyone else, we’ll just ask what fashion trends you’ve been turned on to this summer?
Hmm, that’s a good question. Probably cool little sandals. I’ve been wearing a lot of little sandals. And skirts and miniskirts are fun. Always the basics, the Italian basics. Gucci. Oh–Yves St. Laurent is always a good one.
Y’know, YSL is going to be opening a new store in L.A. soon.
Are they really? I didn’t know that–Uh-oh. I’m in more trouble now [laughs].
Are you that serious of a shopper? Or as a Hollywood star do you get a lot of cool swag for free?
A little bit of both. I haven’t quite gotten to the point where they’re sending all kinds of stuff, unless it’s for a premiere or something. Usually borrow, occasionally keep.
We’re here at a restaurant opening, where the hors d’oeuvres keep coming and the drinks flow all night…do you watch what you eat when you’re working on JAG, or are you just one of the blessed?
I can eat quite a bit but I can also gain if I’m not careful. The first few years on the show I gained about seven, or eight, nine pounds from the beginning to the end of the seasons.
The evil craft services table?
Totally–my waist just started to go whoooop! They had to let out the skirts; it was horrible. So for the few years I haven’t done that. I’ll occasionally have a Krispy Kreme because you can’t resist, but I try to work out and mostly eat healthy so when I have the bad stuff it’s not so bad.
At the risk of making a double, or even triple, entendre, are we going to be seeing more of you any time soon?
You definitely are. I have a few things in the works, some things that may be coming out soon. No [photo shoots], though.
We’ll keep looking for you. See you inside–and don’t worry, eat whatever you want!
I will!
Catch JAG every Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST/PST on CBS.
